"We are mirrored in other people's reflections"

Whenever I read books, I usually pick out a few favorite quotations I have. I found one that I love in David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy. Towards the end of the book Paul states, "We are mirrored in other people's reflections" (Levithan 178).

I absolutely love this line because I feel it has such a universal power to it, especially in the context of multiculturalism and diversity. This line really reminded me of my study abroad experience in Italy. I traveled to a country where I was completely unfamiliar with its culture: their language dress, traditions, values, etc. However, at the end of my experience not only did I understand and empathize with their culture, I began to see myself in their culture realizing that there are not as many differences amongst us as I once though. I eventually feel like I was able to "mirror myself in their reflection."

Levithan, David. Boy Meets Boy. New York: Random House, 2003.